art, craft, product design

HEMA design contest

In 2006 I entered trough my school, the “HEMA design contest” which is held every year. Young school going designers from two country’s can enter (the Netherlands and Belgium). My whole class and me have spend our time on the assignment, design a piece of furniture for children. For my design I got my inspiration from my own childhood. In which I tried to read with a flashlight under the covers of my bed. And I remember that my arms always got tired from making the tent form under the cover, while holding the flashlight to see the book. But by doing that you just can’t flip the pages! So I came up with the following idea. An adjustable transparent tent pole that has a flash light in it, so that children could read or play under the covers of their bed without getting painful arms or legs. The tent pole stays up straight by grip of the soft ends and the pressure of the cover.

I must say it was really hard to get it done but I made it in time and, even to my own surprise, I got an honorable title! (eervolle vermelding)

I didn’t win, but it actually didn’t bother me! Because I was mentioned and I got to be on stage! I also got into an exhibition that was linked to the HEMA. So it was worth the effort! And it even got better because the next week I got a call from a family member saying that I was in the papers! And when I read it I was amazed! The whole article started with me, the journalist that wrote it said that he didn’t understand why I didn’t win! It can’t get any better than this! It was really an amazing experience.